Cedar Valley (El Centro is an authorized site), Eastfield, and Mountain View only

Students must earn at least 25% of the credit hours required for graduation through instruction by the college awarding the degree.

Degree Plan Code: C1.CJ.BASIC.12

This certificate is attached to the Associates in Applied Sciences Degree in Criminal Justice and the transfer Field of Study degree in Criminal Justice. It is designed for students who would like exposure to the basic elements of the criminal justice system but who also have the intent of transferring to a Baccalaureate degree-granting institution.

SEMESTER II

NOTE: Students enrolling in this program who plan to transfer to a four-year institution should consult an advisor or counselor regarding transfer requirements and the transferability of these courses to the four-year institution of their choice.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Eastfield only

Students must earn at least 25% of the credit hours required for graduation through instruction by the college awarding the degree.

Degree Plan Code: C1.CJ.DIG.FOR.INV

The Criminal Digital Forensic Investigations Technician Certificate is designed to prepare an individual for a future career in a specialized area of Criminal Justice. The Certificate in Criminal Digital Forensic Investigations will provide students with the knowledge and skills to pass the state of Texas Private Investigator License Exam. Individuals must be licensed as Texas licensed Private Investigator to perform digital forensic investigations in Texas. The certificate is also designed to provide professional development opportunities to those who are currently employed in related industries.

Job opportunities for students who complete this certificate will be available in local, regional, and national law enforcement agencies, crime labs, paternity identification labs, and archaeological sites. Forensic Science is recognized as both an art and a science. Scientific discoveries along with advances in technology have increased the accuracy of forensic results and thus the pursuit of justice. Therefore, it is necessary for this particular certificate to combine the knowledge that comes from different academic disciplines â?? criminal justice and digital forensics. Local, state and national law enforcement agencies, along with private detectives, attorneys and judges, rely heavily on the work of the professionally trained criminal digital forensic investigation specialist.

Course content for the Criminal Digital Forensic Investigations Certificate will focus on the basics of the gathering and the analysis of evidence by qualified, experienced faculty from both Eastfield and Richland Colleges. Please note that three of the courses in this certificate will be taught at Eastfield College (Criminal Justice Program) and three will be taught at Richland College (Digital Forensic Program).

This is a unique certificate offering in that although it is an Eastfield College Program and will be approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board as a certificate program for Eastfield College, 50% of the courses will be taught from the curriculum and by the faculty of Richland College and 50% of the courses will be taught from the curriculum and by the faculty of Eastfield College.

Individuals who are planning to go into a career related to digital forensics investigations must, by Texas law, be a licensed Private Investigator. These students must have the knowledge to pass the Private Investigator license exam. They will obtain that knowledge by successfully completing the identified courses taught through the Eastfield Criminal Justice Program. Individuals who are planning to go into a career related to criminal investigations must have a background and foundation base in digital forensics. They will obtain that knowledge by successfully completing the identified courses taught through the Richland Digital Forensics Program. The merger of these courses provides the opportunity for both groups of students to attain their career goals with the best instruction possible.

The students who enroll at Richland College for the digital forensic courses will be Richland students, and Richland College will report those students. The students who enroll at Eastfield College for the criminal justice courses will be Eastfield College students, and Eastfield College will report those students. It will be an Eastfield College Program and the students will receive their certificate from Eastfield College.

NOTE: Students enrolling in this program who plan to transfer to a four-year institution should consult an advisor or counselor regarding transfer requirements and the transferability of these courses to the four-year institution of their choice.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE -- CRIMINAL FORENSICS

Eastfield only

Students must earn at least 25% of the credit hours required for graduation through instruction by the college awarding the degree.

Degree Plan Code: C1.CJ.FORENSICS

The Criminal Forensics Certificate is designed to prepare an individual for a future career in a very specialized area of Criminal Justice. The Certificate in Forensic Science will be suitable for students majoring in criminal justice or certain scientific major fields of study that will launch the student into a successful career in forensic science. The Criminal Forensics Certificate will also provide the individual who is already a professional public service criminal justice employee with the opportunity to enhance their knowledge and skills and just provide opportunities for advancement.

Students pursuing a Certificate in Criminal Forensics will be taught and trained in the basics of the gathering and the analysis of evidence. Job opportunities for students who complete this certificate will be available in local, regional, and national public service police employment.

Criminal Forensics is recognized as both an art and a science. Scientific discoveries along with advances in technology have increased the accuracy of forensic results and thus the pursuit of justice. Therefore, it is necessary that individuals who are either currently employed or are seeking future employment in the field of Criminal Justice be educated and trained in the basics of crime scene investigation procedures and evidence collection. Local, state and national law enforcement agencies, along with private detectives, attorneys and judges, rely heavily on the work of the professionally trained forensic specialist.

Students are encouraged to complete an associate degree and then pursue a bachelor's or master's degree in criminal forensics. Certain WECM courses may not transfer to the degree requirements for the bachelor's degree.

SEMESTER III

NOTE: Students enrolling in this program who plan to transfer to a four-year institution should consult an advisor or counselor regarding transfer requirements and the transferability of these courses to the four-year institution of their choice.

Cedar Valley (El Centro is an authorized site), Eastfield, and Mountain View only

Students must earn at least 25% of the credit hours required for graduation through instruction by the college awarding the degree.

Degree Plan Code: AAS.CRIM.JUST.08

The curriculum is designed for those with Criminal Justice backgrounds as well as for recent high school graduates interested in preparing for employment in the fields of law enforcement, corrections, probation and parole or private security.

#Both CJSA courses are WECM courses and MAY NOT transfer to a four-year program as part of the transferable credits for the four-year degree.

BASIC POLICE ACADEMY

NOTE: A student enrolling in a Basic Police Academy program must meet the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education Requirements (TCLEOSE) for minimum standards if you plan to seek employment in the law enforcement field. Students must be 21 years of age at time of enrollment. Additional restrictions include - Students must NOT have:

(A) Been convicted of a misdemeanor offense above the grade of a Class C Misdemeanor within the last 10 years,

(B) Been on court ordered supervision or probation for any criminal offense above the grade of Class C misdemeanor,

(C) Been convicted of a felony offense or Class A misdemeanor,

(D) Have court or Grand Jury action pending with any cases above a Class C misdemeanor,

(E) Been convicted of any family violence offense,

(F) Been prohibited by state or federal law from operating a motor vehicle, and

(G) Been prohibited by state or federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition.

(H) Student MUST be a U.S. citizen. (THIS APPLIES ONLY TO THOSE ENROLLING IN THE BASIC POLICE ACADEMY AND NOT TO THOSE WHO ARE ENROLLING IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE DEGREE PROGRAMS.)

The following courses will be given as credit to students who have successfully completed a Basic Police Academy and passed the Texas Basic Peace Officer Licensing Examination through the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (TCLEOSE). A student must meet all registration requirements set forth by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and the colleges of the Dallas County Community College District. A student must successfully complete at least six (6) credit hours of Criminal Justice courses (either academic or technical courses) prior to applying for the 5 additional technical courses listed below totaling at least 24 credit hours. The credit awarded will not be assigned a grade, but will be recorded as "credit awarded":

NOTE: Students enrolling in this program who plan to transfer to a four-year insitution should consult an advisor or counselor regarding transfer requirements and the transferability of these courses to the four-year institution of their choice.

Cedar Valley (El Centro is an authorized site), Eastfield, and Mountain View only

Students must earn at least 25% of the credit hours required for graduation through instruction by the college awarding the degree.

Degree Plan Code: C1.CRIM.JUST.08

This certificate is attached to the Associate in Applied Sciences Degree in Criminal Justice and provides the student the skills and academic requirements necessary to qualify for a law enforcement agency with a minimum 30 semester hour requirement.

SEMESTER III

NOTE: Students enrolling in this program who plan to transfer to a four-year institution should consult an advisor or counselor regarding transfer requirements and the transferability of these courses to the four-year institution of their choice.

Cedar Valley (El Centro is an authorized site), Eastfield, and Mountain View only

Students must earn at least 25% of the credit hours required for graduation through instruction by the college awarding the degree.

Degree Plan Code: C2.CRIM.JUST.08

This certificate is attached to the Associate in Applied Sciences Degree in Criminal Justice and provides the student the skills and academic requirements necessary to qualify for a law enforcement agency with a minimum 45 semester hour requirement.

NOTE: Students enrolling in this program who plan to transfer to a four-year institution should consult an advisor or counselor regarding transfer requirements and the transferability of these courses to the four-year institution of their choice.